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That’s what this time of the year is. Time for festivals. It starts right with rakhi, janmasthmi and eid in August moves on to Ganesh Chathurthi to navratri , dashara, karwachauth and ofcourse the mother of all festivals for India – Diwali
I love this season, season in which there are celebrations all around, happiness all around and not to mention the yummy food.
What surprises me in India though is the diversity of these festivals, how the small things differ from region to region. So while during Ganesh Chaturthi a little gauri is worshipped in Karnataka its usually only the Ganesh is rest of the country. For navratri too its different beliefs., different celebrations. Up north people fast for 7 days because the little durga was hiding in a cave in Vaishno Devi during those days without food and on the 8th/9th day when she emerged out of the cave after killing Bhairo she went to a farmer house for food. So this is what is celebrated on, 7th days of fasting followed by feeding little girls who are treated as devis.. halwa, poori and chole before breaking the fast. While the same is celebrated in West with the lovely dandiya every night with all the fun, while in east its all about celebrating Durga with Pujo Pandals and sindoor khela with the final day marking the visargan of durga. Down south it takes a different avatar and people keep golu (lots of cute dolls lined up in stairs), people are invited home and little gifts are exchanged. One time so many celebrations, amusing isn’t it? Even the final 10th day i.e dushehra is celebrated so differently, while in North its celebration of Ram’s victory over Ravana by burning huge effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran which is preceded by 9 days of Ram Lila that is enacting Ramayana in form of drama, whereas in some parts of South of Ravana is actually worshipped.
And here I have just pointed out the differences in the navratri, the pattern just continues in all festivals. The diversity and the reason I love India some more
Leaving you with a picture of my thali for the kanjaks at home this year, halwa,poori,chole, mars in a kung fu panda plate…
Wow..that plate looks so yummy..my aunty in Baroda who is from the North used to feed me this till I started getting my periods :)
I love that chole..could you post the recipe on Sin-a-mon..I tried it, but I think I am going wrong in the masalas somewhere :)
and only when I read this on your post, I realised that Navratri is indeed celebrated so different in the four directions of India…super na :)
yeah its done for young girls, sigh India and its belifes…
oh will do that soon one day
Yes truly , diversity of cultures all across the Country.. At the end what matters is the good spirit and zest with which we celebrate these festivals and pouring our heart out in each and every little thing that we do. Hope All the To-Do list of shopping and preparations for Diwali is chalked out.. just a matter of time to put a tick on each of those as well.. :D
The Chole-Puri and Halwa … looks so yummm and yes Mars would have been the best part for the Little Devis.. lovely treat for them :)
this time diwali is not so big here;… an uncle passed away but yes the list has started yet to start shopping though
Yum yum! I luv the chole :P :P
And the diversity of India – I luv luv luv it too :)
I know swaram I know :D
the diversity in food, celebrations is what makes us as a country special! :)
your thali looks delicious! :D
yes thats what makes India, INDIA :)
Yes .. it amazes the world that a big nation with so many diversities every 1000 kms is still a one big democratic nation. Nice read :)
:) thank u
What a lovely post! Brings out the diversity of our beautiful country so well! :)
Yum yum yum!!
Yummy thali:) It reminds of the days when me and my younger sisters use to go to neighbouring houses for kanjak. Indian festivals are really full of fun and feast:)
the diversity of cultures, traditions, festivals and food – that’s what I love about India.